Bothwell addresses jobs, education, health care

Cecil Bothwell addressed jobs, education and health care at a town hall meeting Friday in Hendersonville.

John Harbin/Times-News

By John HarbinTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 9:49 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 9:49 a.m.

Cecil Bothwell, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler in the 11th Congressional District primary in May, addressed jobs, education and health care at a town hall meeting Friday in Hendersonville.

Bothwell's campaign platform is built on "jobs, not cuts," "education for all" and "strengthening Social Security and Medicare."

To create jobs in the region, Bothwell wants to support the American Jobs Act, the Summer Jobs+ program and the creation of a new Civilian Conservation Corps to retrofit buildings and install both a smart grid and broadband wireless throughout the region.

Bothwell said it's always been the function of government to create jobs in a downturn and pointed to historic projects such as the TVA and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

"We need to put people to work repairing and building infrastructure," he said.

Bothwell also said he wants America to again have the best education system in the world.

"No Child Left Behind was a failure," he said. "Instead of teaching to tests, we need to be creative."

As for health care, Bothwell said the focus needs to be on a single-payer health care plan.

"I am hopeful that Obamacare is starting us on that route," he added.

Bothwell said many people had interesting questions for him during the town hall.

"One person asked me what will we do for enlisted people when they come home," he said. "We have to provide education, comprehensive health care and support. I don't want to see what happened in my generation after Vietnam."

He was also asked about his position on the possibility of nuclear reactors being placed in South Carolina.

"I am opposed to nuclear power," he said. "We need to invest in solar and wind power. We need to build a smart grid."

Mike Davenport came out to meet Bothwell at Janitzio's Mexican Restaurant, and said he was impressed with Bothwell's stance on campaign finance reform, "or getting the money out of politics."

"Cecil is in line with my personal beliefs on health care," he said. "Preservation of the expansion of Social Security is important to all of us. I have been a supporter since he announced he was running. I have been disappointed with (Heath) Shuler's performance. Shuler does a good job of representing the district, but not the people. He has alienated me, and I feel he needs to support the president more."

Gale Wayne of Hendersonville said she's supporting Bothwell because she, too, is discouraged by Shuler.

"Cecil makes a lot of sense," she said. "He will represent the real Democratic Party. He is very sincere, and he isn't just talking to the crowd when he speaks."

A.D. Hemmingway said she feels that Bothwell makes politics easy to understand.

"If he is as honest as he appears," she said, "he will make a great candidate."

Martha Sachs of Hendersonville said she feels Bothwell is a genuine candidate.

"He has no prepared speech and he is speaking from his heart," she said. "He is thoughtful and he understands what the truth is."

<p>Cecil Bothwell, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler in the 11th Congressional District primary in May, addressed jobs, education and health care at a town hall meeting Friday in Hendersonville.</p><p>Bothwell's campaign platform is built on "jobs, not cuts," "education for all" and "strengthening Social Security and Medicare."</p><p>To create jobs in the region, Bothwell wants to support the American Jobs Act, the Summer Jobs+ program and the creation of a new Civilian Conservation Corps to retrofit buildings and install both a smart grid and broadband wireless throughout the region.</p><p>Bothwell said it's always been the function of government to create jobs in a downturn and pointed to historic projects such as the TVA and the Blue Ridge Parkway.</p><p>"We need to put people to work repairing and building infrastructure," he said.</p><p>Bothwell also said he wants America to again have the best education system in the world.</p><p>"No Child Left Behind was a failure," he said. "Instead of teaching to tests, we need to be creative."</p><p>As for health care, Bothwell said the focus needs to be on a single-payer health care plan.</p><p>"I am hopeful that Obamacare is starting us on that route," he added.</p><p>Bothwell said many people had interesting questions for him during the town hall.</p><p>"One person asked me what will we do for enlisted people when they come home," he said. "We have to provide education, comprehensive health care and support. I don't want to see what happened in my generation after Vietnam."</p><p>He was also asked about his position on the possibility of nuclear reactors being placed in South Carolina.</p><p>"I am opposed to nuclear power," he said. "We need to invest in solar and wind power. We need to build a smart grid."</p><p>Mike Davenport came out to meet Bothwell at Janitzio's Mexican Restaurant, and said he was impressed with Bothwell's stance on campaign finance reform, "or getting the money out of politics."</p><p>"Cecil is in line with my personal beliefs on health care," he said. "Preservation of the expansion of Social Security is important to all of us. I have been a supporter since he announced he was running. I have been disappointed with (Heath) Shuler's performance. Shuler does a good job of representing the district, but not the people. He has alienated me, and I feel he needs to support the president more."</p><p>Gale Wayne of Hendersonville said she's supporting Bothwell because she, too, is discouraged by Shuler.</p><p>"Cecil makes a lot of sense," she said. "He will represent the real Democratic Party. He is very sincere, and he isn't just talking to the crowd when he speaks."</p><p>A.D. Hemmingway said she feels that Bothwell makes politics easy to understand.</p><p>"If he is as honest as he appears," she said, "he will make a great candidate."</p><p>Martha Sachs of Hendersonville said she feels Bothwell is a genuine candidate.</p><p>"He has no prepared speech and he is speaking from his heart," she said. "He is thoughtful and he understands what the truth is."</p><p>Reach Harbin at 828-694-7881 or john.harbin@blueridgenow.com.</p>